Stirrup



(No Model.)

J. H. STEPHENS. STIRRUP.

No. 580,095. Patented Apr; 6, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. STEPHENS, OF VERNON, TEXAS.

STIRRUP.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 580,095, dated April 6,1897.

Application filed February 25, 1896. Serial No. 580,642. (No model.)

To coZZ whom it may concern- Be it known that 1, JOHN H. STEPHENS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Vernon, in the county ofWilbarger and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Stirrups; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements instirrups; and it has for its objects, among others, to provide a simple,cheap, and durable stirrup that will be light and yielding and notliable to become easily broken.

It has for a further object to provide a stirrup that will adjust itselfto the foot of the rider. The stirrup-leather enters the stirruplengthwise with the riders foot instead of transversely thereof, so thatthe stirrup will normally lie alongside the horse, so as to at all timesbe ready to receive the foot.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by theappended claims.

The invent-ion in this instance resides in the peculiar combinations andthe construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, all as morefully hereinafter described, shown in the drawings, and thenparticularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisspecification, and in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of my improvedstirrup. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same. Fig. 3 isavertical section, at right angles to Fig. 2, of a modified form.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates thebottom portion of the stirrup, which is composed of a plate of thinspring-steel of suitable shape, provided near each side edge withopenings (4 and near the center with the openings a, running parallelwith the openings a.

B is the upper portion of the stirrup. It is formed of a single piece ofthin spring-steel or other metal and is provided along each edge withthe openings 6 and along near the center with the openings b paralleltherewith.

The upper and lower parts are connected by the spring-wires O, which arepassed through the openings in the upper and lower portions of thestirrup, as shown, passing through the openings at one edge upwardly,then down through the openings at the center, and up through those atthe'opposite edge and likewise through the openings in the upper part.This forms a very light yet strong and easy riding-stirrup.

D is the stirrup leather, which extends around the circular band E,arranged in the slots F of the upper portion, and this leather isarranged at right angles to the direction of the foot.

G is a tongue or strap that is arranged underneath the upper plate andextending lengthwise thereof and serves to relieve the strain on themain upper piece and strengthens and supports the weight of the rider.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

lVhat is claimed as new is- 1. A stirrup composed of an upper and alower plate of spring metal provided with openings and wires threadedthrough said openings and extending vertically at the edges transverselynear the center of the lower plate, and inclinedly upon opposite sidesof the upper plate, substantially as described.

2. A stirrup composed of an upper and a lower plate of spring metalprovided with openings and wires threaded through said openings andextending vertically at the edges transversely near the center of thelower plate, and inclinedly upon opposite sides of the upper plate, anda stirrup-leather connected with the upper section and passed throughthe same at right angles to the foot of the rider, substantially asdescribed.

3. A stirrup composed of an upper and a lower spring-plate, wiresinterlaced through openings in the upper and lower parts, a platedisposed lengthwise of and upon the under side of the upper plate, and aband around which the stirrup-leather is designed to pass, allsubstantially as described. 7

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. STEPHENS. Witnesses:

J. B. TOLBERT, S. P. Horn.

ICO

